day?'

I stared, and felt confused; for however easy I found it to refer to
the past, and reason on it, any speculation as to the future was a
considerable difficulty.

'You hesitate; you have not yet made up your mind, apparently.'

'It is not that; I am trying to think of liberty, trying to fancy myself
free--but I cannot!' said I, with a weary sigh. 'The air of this cell
has sapped my courage and my energy--a little more will finish the
ruin!'

'And yet you are not much above four or five-and-twenty years of age?'

'Not yet twenty!' said I.

'Come, come, Tiernay--this is too early to be sick of life!' said he,
and the kind tone touched me so that I burst into tears. They were
bitter tears, too; for while my heart was relieved by this gush of
feeling, I was ashamed at my own weakness. 'Come, I say,' continued he,
'this memoir of yours might have done you much mischief--happily it
has not done so. Give me the permission to throw it in the fire, and,
instead of it, address a respectful petition to the head of the state,
setting forth your services, and stating the casualty by which you were
implicated in Royalism. I will take care that it meets his eye, and, if
possible, will support its prayer. Above all, ask for reinstalment in
your grade, and a return to the service. It may be, perhaps, that
you can mention some superior officer who would vouch for your future
conduct.'

'Except Colonel Mahon----'

'Not the Colonel Mahon who commanded the 13th Cuirassiers?'

'The same.'

'That name would little serve you,' said he coldly: 'he has been placed
_en retraite_ some time back; and if your character can call no other
witness than him, your case is not too favourable.' He saw that the
speech had disconcerted me, and soon added, 'Never mind--keep to
the memoir; state your case, and your apology, and leave the rest to
Fortune. When can you let me have it?'

'By to-morrow--to-night, if necessary.'

'To-morrow will do well, and so good-bye. I will order them to supply
you with writing materials'; and slapping me good-naturedly on the
shoulder, he cried, 'Courage, my lad!' and departed.

Before I lay down to sleep that night, I completed my 'memoir,' the
great difficulty of which I found to consist in giving it that dry
brevity which I knew Bonaparte would require. In this, however, I
believe I succeeded at last, making the entire document not to occupy
one sheet of paper. The officer had left his card of address